Method for supporting IP network interconnectivity between partitions in a virtualized environment

Abstract

A method for preventing loopback of data packets sent between entities residing on a single host. In one embodiment, an auxiliary address shared among entities residing on the host indicates that a data packet is to be routed to an entity residing on the host. In another embodiment, a source address and a target address in a data packet header are switched while being routed to a target entity residing on the host.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates generally to network connectivity for guest entities existing on a shared host. More particularly, embodiments of the invention enable network connectivity for entities without implementing network address translation.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]There are several commercial virtualization environments such as VMWARE® and MICROSOFT® VITRUALPC®. These environments allow multiple guest entities running on a single host, wherein each guest entity can establish a network connection with the outside network and with other entities using an Internet Protocol (IP) or similar protocol. To support connectivity between entities, these environments typically assign one or more addresses to the entities, and resolve data transfers involving the entities via network address translation (NAT).[0005]In a virtualized environment, NAT relies on the host machine having its own Media Access Control (MAC) and Internet...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In a virtualized environment, however, it is implemented in software which runs on the host and consumes significant system resources.

Furthermore, users of a guest entity will not be able to see or use their “real”, i.e. public, IP address for troubleshooting purposes.

This limits the capabilities of the system since, for example, if the service operating system (OS) has a web based configuration page, so one can configure the machine behavior with it, it will only be accessible from an external computer and not from the capability OS.

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